A nostalgic journey to the past to relive the golden days of entertainment!

Monday, December 5, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW: SOLDIER IN THE RAIN

The film Soldier In The Rain is now available on Warner Brothers Vault series, but for many years the movie collected dust and was never seen. Many people who have seen the movie says it is corny, and fans of Steve McQueen do not like him playing a Gomer Pyle like character, but I think Soldier In The Rain is a charming movie, that I have always enjoyed. I got my DVD copy from a Steve McQueen fan, and it is one of my most cherished movie possessions.

Soldier in the Rain (1963), starring Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen, is a comedy-drama film about the friendship between an aging Army Master Sergeant (Gleason) and a young country bumpkin buck sergeant (McQueen). Tuesday Weld also stars.

Produced and co-written by Blake Edwards, the screenplay is based on a 1960 novel by William Goldman, who was in the US Army from 1952-1954. The film was directed by Ralph Nelson, who had directed Gleason in Requiem for a Heavyweight the previous year and had a major success with his Lilies of the Field. The film was released five days after President John F. Kennedy's assassination, which didn't help its box office take.

Sergeant Eustis Clay (McQueen) is a peacetime soldier can't wait to finish his service and move on to bigger, better things. He is a personal favorite of Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter (Gleason), a military lifer who is considerably brighter than Eustis but enjoys his company and loyalty.

Eustis is involved in a number of schemes and scams, including one in which he will sell tickets to see an equally dim private named Meltzer run a three-minute mile. He inconveniences Slaughter more than once, including a traffic mishap that requires him being bailed out of jail.

Determined to tempt Slaughter with the joys of civilian life before his hitch is up, Eustis fixes him up on a date with the much-younger, not too bright Bobbi Jo Pepperdine. At first Slaughter is offended but gradually he sees another side of Bobbi Jo, including a mutual fondness for crossword puzzles. Eustis and Slaughter golf together and begin to enjoy the good life.

One night, Eustis is devastated to learn of the death of Donald, his dog. A pair of hated rivals wh use their status as Military Policemen to lure Eustis into a barroom brawl. He is beaten two-against-one and is nearly defeated when Slaughter angrily comes to his rescue. Together they win the fight, but the middle-aged, overweight Slaughter collapses from the effort.

Hospitalized, he delights Eustis by suggesting that they leave the Army together and go live on a tropical isle, surrounded by blue seas and beautiful girls. Slaughter dies, however, and Eustis, a changed man, re-enlists in the Army for another hitch.

Film critic Craig Butler wrote about the film's theme, "An absorbing film that deserves to be much better known, Soldier in the Rain is a sometimes uneasy blend of comedy and drama that doesn't always quite come off, but has so much going for it that one is glad to overlook its flaws. A buddy picture set in the peacetime Army, Soldier is concerned with how a strong friendship can develop between two people of differing personalities and aims. Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen are different types, and the fact that they have such a strong bond may at first seem unlikely, but as the film progresses it somehow seems natural and inevitable. Blake Edwards and Martin Richlin have done an excellent job of adapting William Goldman's novel, and together with director Ralph Nelson have opted to emphasize the character aspects of the material over the plot."

6 comments:

"In my day" anyone who liked Steve McQueen liked this movie (and any/every movie he appeared in). Plus it co-starred Gleason! I haven't seen it for years, but you remind me that it's time for a re-visit.

I love this film, one of my favorite of Steve's films.Tony Bill & Tuesday Weld are excellent, In fact I think it's Tuesday's best film.It's to bad the DVD from the Warner vault collection is not the complete uncut film.

I could not agree more with the review given by David Lobosco. Both men used a tiny snippet of one simple scene to show off their acting chops, and to demonstrate why they both deserved to be called "The Great One." (I saw this movie at a Naval base theater about six months after it came out, and have not seen it since. This is how strong an impression it made on me.)

I refer to the discussion between Maxwell Slaughter (Gleason) and Eustis Clay(McQueen), as the former is selling his idea of retiring on a south seas island. It's made clear that they've had this conversation before when McQueen says, "Tell me again, Maxwell, about what the girls wear there."After a perfectly timed hesiitation and a just-right facial expression, Gleason answers, "Nothing, Eustice. Absolutely nothing." The look of amazement, inspired youth, shyness, and renewed awe that McQueen gives back is one of the great acting moments of film.

I know it's a late comment but couldn't believe anybody else but me liked this movie. Not sure why exactly but think the previous comments covered it. Had been trying to find it online but will try to buy a copy now.